Trucking Company Liability in Motor Vehicle Accidents

April 18, 2014

Some type of human error contributes to more than 90 percent of all traffic accidents that take place in the U.S., the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports. While this type of human error commonly comes in the form of driver negligence, in some cases, the negligence of a trucking company may be to blame for causing or worsening a motor vehicle accident.

Failure to train drivers and maintain trucks are two common forms of trucking company negligence that can contribute to serious motor vehicle accident

When people injured in traffic accidents suspect that any of these forms of trucking company liability may have contributed to their collision and injuries, it’s time to contact the Portland motor vehicle accident attorneys at the Savage Law Firm to learn more about their rights and potential entitlements.

Common Examples of Trucking Company Negligence

Some of the ways in which trucking companies may be negligent and, consequently, play a role in causing traffic accidents include by:

Failing to properly train drivers before sending them out on the road – Although commercial drivers may have some training from previous jobs, when they are newly hired by a trucking company, that company is responsible for ensuring that its drivers are trained on how to operate its trucks. Specifically, this can include (but is not limited to) training for drivers for defensive driving, loading and unloading trucks, securing hitches and inspecting trucks between driving shifts. When trucking companies fail to train their drivers and put inexperienced commercial drivers on the road, they can be held liable for compensating accident victims if the inexperienced trucker causes a traffic accident.

Failing to maintain the trucks in their fleet – In some cases, trucking companies may choose to forego essential truck maintenance in an effort to cut their overhead and maximize their profits. Taking this dangerous gamble, however, can seriously endanger the lives of other people who are on the road, as failure to maintain trucks significantly increases the risk that critical equipment on trucks will malfunction as the trucks are being driven.Specifically, the types of malfunctions that commonly occur when trucking companies don’t properly maintain their vehicles include (but are not limited to):

Tire blowouts

Brake failures

Steering system problems

Malfunctions of indicators, brake lights and other safety equipment

Problems with truck hitches.

When trucking company negligence causes motor vehicle accidents, contact the Portland motor vehicle accident lawyers at the Savage Law Firm.

In addition to failure to train drivers and failure to maintain trucks, some other common forms of trucking company liability can include:

Failing to thoroughly screen drivers during the hiring process – Before trucking companies hire commercial drivers and put them behind the wheels of tractor trailers, they should be conducting background checks on these drivers. While conducting thorough screening of potential drivers can confirm whether a person has his commercial driver’s license, it can also highlight crucial facts about that individual’s driving record – like whether the person has a history of drunk driving, violating traffic laws or otherwise being reckless or irresponsible behind the wheel.When trucking companies fail to take this critical step during the hiring process, there is an increased chance that they can put unqualified or reckless people behind the wheels of semis and, as a result, endanger other motorists on the roadways.

Encouraging drivers to violate trucking regulations – Both trucking companies and the drivers themselves are legally obligated to comply with state and federal trucking regulations (which govern everything from how toxic substances are hauled to how trucks should be inspected to the maximum number of hours drivers are allowed to drive before they are required to take breaks). In some cases, trucking companies may encourage drivers to violate these trucking regulations in an effort to try to get loads to their destination ahead of schedule. For example, trucking companies may offer incentives like bonuses to drivers who violate federal hours-of-service regulations if these drivers can deliver cargo before the deadline.When any violation of trucking regulations plays a role in causing a motor vehicle accident, the trucking company will likely be considered to be negligent and can be held responsible for compensating accident victims for their injuries and losses.

Portland Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyers at the Savage Law Firm

If you have been injured in a truck accident or in any type of motor vehicle accident that may have been caused by negligence, the Portland motor vehicle accident attorneys at the Savage Law Firm are ready to fight for your rights to compensation. Since 1977, our lawyers have been providing each of our clients with the highest quality legal services, giving us the experience necessary to get you the results and compensation you deserve.

Let’s Discuss Your Case during a Free Initial Consult

Our Portland motor vehicle accident attorneys encourage you to learn more about your rights and case by setting up a free initial consult.

To learn more about our legal services and what we can do for you, call us at 503-222-0200 (in Portland) or at 206-957-7272 (in Seattle). You can also email us using the form on this page.

The Savage Law Firm provides legal advice and representation for personal injury and civil litigation plaintiffs in Portland, Oregon, and communities throughout the western and central part of the state, including Beaverton, Lake Oswego, Gresham, Oregon City, Tigard, Milwaukie, Medford, Ashland, Grants Pass, Salem,
Corvallis and Eugene.

The firm also provides service in Washington state including Seattle, Tacoma, Renton, Redmond, King County and Bellevue.

Disclaimer: We cannot guarantee results in any particular case. The cases described in this website are only examples.